These installations are part of a campaign called “Road to zero”, set up by local authorities.
No drinking and driving
We can never do enough prevention regarding drunk driving. Whether for your own safety, that of others… or even for your own wallet, drinking and driving never go well together. An adage that is good to continue to emphasize, especially during the holiday season, when we may be tempted to get behind the wheel after a family meal that was a little too drunk.
According to an article from Road Safety, “the risk of being responsible for a fatal accident is multiplied by 18 among drunk drivers”. These accidents are also more serious than when drivers are sober. To limit the death rate on the road and ensure good road safety, a blood alcohol level limit is set.
A new anti-alcohol instrument
Therefore, driving with a blood alcohol level equal to or greater than 0.5 g/l and less than 0.8 g/l will earn you a fine. For probationary licenses, the blood alcohol level must be equivalent to 0.2g/l of blood alcohol. From the first glass this rate is exceeded. The message here: no alcohol for inexperienced drivers!
In addition to these fines and the potential checks where certain drivers are tested, a new anti-alcohol instrument is starting to appear: a radar. Already installed in two counties in England, this radar resembles a “large, ultra-modern crane”, according to an article from TF1.
A radar full of sensors powered by artificial intelligence
Except that this large crane is full of sensors which are based on an Artificial Intelligence system. They are supposed to monitor the trajectory of vehicles. If these radars detect suspicious behavior, this means that the drivers may have consumed alcohol or drugs.
A photo of the vehicle will be taken if the trajectory is too uncertain, following which the police will be notified to intercept the vehicle. Note that a photo does not necessarily equal a fine, since a bad trajectory or uncertain driving can also be explained by loss of concentration, severe fatigue or inexperienced driving.
In any case, the upcoming installation of this radar is reassuring. “We are all safer if we can detect a failure before it causes an incident that could ruin lives,” Geoff Collins, managing director of radar developer Acusensus in the UK, told Le Parisien.
In the meantime, this experiment is proving very conclusive, according to the company's director.
Source: BBC
With an unwavering passion for local news, Christopher leads our editorial team with integrity and dedication. With over 20 years’ experience, he is the backbone of Wouldsayso, ensuring that we stay true to our mission to inform.
